The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-01
THE NATIONS CAPITAL
Pre- Sident Cleveland Issues His
Proclamation.
COMMISSIONER LYMAN INTERVIEWED

WASHINGTON, October 25.-Ciyil Service
Commissioner Lyman, who has just returned
to the city, was interviewed by an associated
press reporter today. In reply to inquiries by
the reporter, Mr.. Lyman said that he had read
Mr. Oberly's letter to the Illinois association
and the reported interview with Mr.. Edgerton
OIL the points raised and discussed in that let
ter, and that in the main his views conceded
with those of Mr.. Oberly. He regarded asso-
Citations of the character of the Illinois asSocia-
ton, whether composed OF democrats, republic
cans, labor reformers, temperance advocates or
what not, as very Objectionable, II not illegal,
and certain to greater or less extent to de-
moralize the public and to defeat one object of
the civil service law, viz: To secure nom
partisan service within the sphere of the opera
ton OF that law a service non-partisan in fact,
and non-partisan in attitude and action, in
which partisan politics as trade shall have no
place.
"Once concede," he continued, ''that adhe-
rents in the public service Of the party in
power may organize themselves in an associa-
ton for the purpose of maintaining that party
in power, and under the impartial action of
the civil service law, the right must also be
conceded to those in the service opposed to the
party in power to organize themselves into as
sociations for the purpose Of overthrowing
that party and driving it out OF
power. And when all parties are
thus organized, and members of the
associations of each are actively engaged in
endeavors to Dust from the service members of
the associations of the others for that is just
the direction their activity will take, sooner or
later, no matter what their professionalism
spectacle will be presented to the gaze of the
country. The bare possibility Of such a condi-
ton of things resulting from the organization
of partisan political associations in the public
service is enough to condemn the whole move
ment, and should secure its instant abandon
ment."
Upon the sui. st nf assessments or contribu-
tons for political purposes, he said:
such associations cannot be maintained
without money; and the payment of money
in the shape of dues, or otherwise, by their
members, who are in the public service, to the
treasurer, also i'll that service, would be a clear
violation of section II of the civil service laws
and the receipt of every such payment of
money or other valuable things by such treas
urer, would be an equally clear violation of
section II of the civil service laws. But it is
claimed that money, any other thing of
value, may be paid to the treasurer who is not
in the public service, without violating the
law. This is not so clear. The law provides:
That no officer clerk or other person in the ser
vice of the United States shall directly indirectly
give or hand over to any other officer clerk per-
son in the service OF the United States, any money
or other valuable thing account OF, to be ap-
Piled TO the promotion of any political object what
ever
Referring to Mr.. Oberly's recent order de-
clarng members of political committees in
eligible for appointment on the board of civil
service examiners, Mr.. Lyman said:
'If it is Objectionable for employees in the
classified civil service to organize themselves
into partisan political associations, it is much
more Objectionable for members of boards
of civil service examiners to be
members of such associations or
of committees organized for political
work. Members of these boards must be abso-
lutoly free from any suspicion of partisanship
in their action, thing impossible, so long as
they are active in such association or on such
committees, and it is clearly the right and
duty of the civil service commission to see to
it that its boards of examiners are free from
every just suspicion of partisanship in their
composition or action"